Democratic Left at Crossroads

The Democratic Left (DIMAR) party is at a crucial crossroads since its 2^nd Congress gets off today at Kerameikos in an effort to delineate strategy and collaboration prospects in order to coalesce a so-called 'third pole,' influencing to a large extent developments in the center-left.

Two main tendencies are registered within the party, concerning the strategy for the center-left. There are those who side with party head Fotis Kouvelis and want a collaboration with center-left forces outside the government, eying SYRIZA. This group dismiss any thought of accepting the proposal of the “Movement of 58” that wants collaboration with PASOK.

The other tendency within DIMAR, expressed mainly through central committee secretary general Spiros Lykoudis, the “modernist” wing, is in favor of the proposals of the “58” and a dialogue within the center-left, without restrictions.

So far there are four tendencies within the party that will seek to be represented in the new central committee: those allied with president Fotis Kouvelis, the Left Network that wants collaboration with SYRIZA, those hailing from PASOK, and the modernists that side with the “58.”

At the same time, former PASOK cadres that supported the government of George Papandreou, including former ministers, have announced their collaboration with DIMAR.

Former PASOK minister Antonis Loverdos with representatives of his party “Agreement for the New Greece” will also be attending the DIMAR Congress, as Mr. Loverdos is already in consultations with Mr. Kouvelis as concerns possible collaboration in light of European Parliament elections.